Ken Byron Ventures The Jigsaw Plateau

The musty, sweet, vintage Cyprian Latakia provides a lot of smoke, earth, wood, floralness, a few herbs, leather, and light spice. It is the main component, comprising sixty percent of the blend. The dry, woody, earthy, floral, vegetative, smoky, spicy, mildly buttery sweet and more sour basma and yenidje compete with the Latakia for attention, and occasionally equals it. The steamed Virginia cavendish offers some tart and tangy citrus, vegetative grass, sugar, bread, and light floralness. It has a very moderate presence in the proceedings. The matured, lightly fermented red Virginia produces tangy ripe dark fruit, earth, wood, bread, a little sugar and a dab of vinegar as a condiment. No chance of bite or harshness, but there are a few small rough notes. The strength and nic-hit are both a step short of strong. The taste level is almost full. Well balanced and deeply rich, it burns cool, clean, and a tad inconsistent at a reasonable rate with a fairly sweet and rather savory, spicy, floral, slightly creamy campfire flavor that extends to the pleasantly long lingering after taste. Has a potent room note. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Not an all day smoke, but it is repeatable. Three and a half stars.

-JimInks